Some of the most beautiful and most
collectible literature is frequently neglected because
it does not come under the category of "brochures".
Dealerships often distributed or displayed promotional
posters and art renderings and these items can be exciting
additions to a collection.

At the turn-of-the century coachbuilders would commission
artists to do renderings of cars which could be built
to a customer's specifications. Coachbuilders gave them
to manufacturers who would approve the designs. Renderings
would then be sent to dealerships where salesmen would
show them to customers who would order a car built to
the drawing's specifications. Upon receipt of a deposit
a framed rendering was frequently presented to the customer.

The following are excellent examples of this art:

Click
on thumbnail for larger view & description

1930 Cadillac Fleetwood
Fleetmere Collapsible Imperial Cabriolet

1930 Cadillac Fleetwood
Fleetwick Transformable Town Car

1930 Cadillac Fleetwood
Fleetmere Sedan-Cabriolet

1916 Crane-Simplex Fleetwood
Inside-Drive Cabriolet

1916 Packard Fleetwood
Limousine

1916 Packard Fleetwood
Cabriolet

In the late 1960s and early 1970s General
Motors gave large poster style sheets to customers who
visited their dealerships. These sheets, such as the
following, are beautiful when mounted. The reverse side
of each sheet has information such as lists of standard
and optional features and paint colors available.

Click
on thumbnail for larger view & description

1969 Chevrolet Camaro

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

1971 Chevrolet Caprice

1972 Chevrolet Vega

1973 Chevrolet Corvette

1973 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo

1973 Chevrolet Nova

1973 Chevrolet Wagons

1971 Oldsmobile Delta
88

1973 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight

1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass

1973 Oldsmobile Omega

1971 Pontiac Catalina
and Laurentian (Canadian)

1973 Pontiac Grand Prix
(Canadian)

1973 Pontiac LeMans and
GrandAm (Canadian)

1973 Pontiac Parisienne,
Catalina and Laurentian (Canadian)

Transparencies of photographs and photo
renderings which were used in shadow boxes in dealerships
to display the new models are also very desirable for
collectors. Here are a few good examples: